By Sara Merken
June 17 (Reuters) - A litigation partner at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft who also chaired the law firm's pro bono committee has left for a smaller firm led by Roberta Kaplan, marking the latest departure from firms that struck deals with U.S. President Donald Trump to avert a White House crackdown.
Ellen Holloman is joining Kaplan Martin, the litigation firm said on Tuesday, touting her experience representing major financial institutions and companies, and her pro bono work on behalf of "veterans, asylum seekers, and members of the LGBTQ community."
Cadwalader in April pledged to provide at least $100 million in free legal work to causes Trump supports, one of nine firms to reach similar deals with the White House to avoid executive orders targeting their businesses.
Holloman opposed Cadwalader's deal with Trump, according to a person familiar with her departure from the firm.
A Cadwalader spokesperson thanked Holloman for her contributions to the firm and noted she has worked with Kaplan in the past. "We wish them continued success," the spokesperson said.
Kaplan, who represented writer E. Jean Carroll in defamation lawsuits against Trump, formed Kaplan Martin last year with Tim Martin, Steven Cohen and Mitra Hormozi. The firm is representing the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in litigation to block the Trump administration's efforts to end Manhattan's congestion pricing program.
Other firms that made deals with the Trump administration have also lost U.S. partners in recent months.
Since the end of May, nine partners have left Paul Weiss to join a new firm, Dunn Isaacson Rhee, co-founded by former Paul Weiss partner Karen Dunn. Litigation partners Martha Goodman and Amy Mauser were the latest to announce their moves in LinkedIn posts this week. Goodman and Mauser did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Paul Weiss in a statement thanked the lawyers for their contributions.
On Friday a group of seven partners left Willkie Farr & Gallagher to join Cooley, which is representing Jenner & Block in its lawsuit fighting a Trump executive order against it. Willkie also added a partner from another firm this week.
(Reporting by Sara Merken)
((Sara.Merken@thomsonreuters.com;))